"We have a unique blend of experienced guys with a lot of inexperienced people." Says Wheaton men's basketball coach Mike Schauer of his squad for 2015-16." He continues, "People may focus on some of the players we have lost over the last couple of years, but we have guys like [Michael] Berg, Joel Smith (PICTURED LEFT), Murad [Dillard], Bernie [Jonathan Berntsen] and Riley [Teuscher] that have played a lot minutes. So it's not like we are inexperienced in certain places." He adds, "I think what I am looking forward to the most is the process of improvement. I told the team in our very first meeting this year 'We are never going to be any worse than we are right now.' This is a team that will continue to get better, because it has to, since we have so many inexperienced people. That is the reality and if we can embrace that and get excited about that, there is an opportunity to win some basketball games against a pretty tough schedule."

Wheaton's tough schedule includes five teams ranked in the D3hoops.com Preseason Top-25 (Augustana, Chicago, Elmhurst, Hope and Illinois Wesleyan), in addition to traditional Division III powers like Calvin College and UW-Whitewater. "The challenge of our schedule is that there are not enough guys that appreciate how hard the schedule is," notes Schauer. He adds, "When I get on our freshmen about practice habits they don't understand how physical opponents like, Calvin, Hope, UW-Whitewater and others will be, because they have never experienced it."

The graduation of 2014-15 starters Brayden Teuscher, Peter Smith and Caleb DeMoss will create opportunities for some of the newcomers for the Thunder this year. Schauer says of the group, "It is a good class and a talented group. I have done this comparatively. If you look at the very best freshmen we have had throughout our program, a lot of them did not play much as a freshman or did not have to play with a great deal of burden. These guys are going to be asked to play more than they should really have to play. There will be moments that they will look really good and then there may be moments where they struggle."

Forward Michael Berg (PICTURED RIGHT) returns for his senior season, having served as a starter in his three previous campaigns with the Thunder. Berg averaged 11.6 points per game last year and led the Thunder with 7.0 rebounds per game. "Mike is in a unique but great opportunity in that he is going to get a lot of shots, a lot of minutes and chances," says Schauer". He continues, "I think he is looking forward to the challenge. I think he is more capable of it than some people realized and he is one of the better players in our league that a lot of people haven't seen yet. The ability to go to Mike and have him get a basket to settle our team is going to be very important."

Senior Joel Smith played in every game, including 14 as a starter, for the Thunder last year with 7.8 points and 4.2 rebounds per game "The biggest thing with Joel is if he can stay healthy. He has had so many bumps and bruises. I think that is always going to be a challenge for him. He is a very good CCIW player and has played in a lot games and has been a part of a lot of wins. He is another guy who needs to rise into a bigger role and to handle that role," mentions Schauer.

Senior guard Jonathan Berntsen (PICTURED LEFT) averaged 18.1 minutes per game last year for the Thunder. He averaged 4.3 points per game, shooting 42.2% (19-of-45) from three-point range. Schauer says of him, "Bernie has really emerged as primary leader on this team. I think the big thing for him is to help our young perimeter players grow."

Guard Riley Teuscher (PICTURED RIGHT) had a strong start to his junior season in 2014-15, before an injury at the beginning of the conference schedule ended his year. Teuscher played in 13 games, averaging 4.7 points per game, shooting 42.4% (19-of-45) behind the three-point arc. The senior is currently dealing with an injury in the preseason, "Riley has not practiced yet in contact. But when he returns he instantly makes us better because he is one of the best shooters in the league," notes the Thunder head coach. Schauer continues, "When he got hurt last year he was shooting in the low to mid 40-percentage range from the arc. He will do that under every circumstance because he is that good of a shooter."

Murad Dillard (PICTURED LEFT) had a strong freshman season for the Thunder in 2014-15. He played in 21 games last year, averaging nearly four points per game. Dillard shot 50% (28-of-56) from the field, including 50% (10-for-20) from three-point range. Dillard tallied a season-high 14 points in a Wheaton victory against North Park at home last year. "Early on this season, Murad is the player that I have been most pleased with in terms of his progress. He is our most consistent player. He is not always our best player, but in all aspects of the game he is consistently very good and he is only going to get better."

Guard Ricky Samuelson played in 16 games as a freshman last year. Samuelson scored 18 points against Millikin at the end of the 2014-15 season and followed that with 14 points and six rebounds against Carthage in the next game. Schauer notes of him, "Ricky is a key guy in the sense that if we are going to be good he has to make that leap from a novelty freshman who shows flashes of potential to everyone seeing that he is a good player. He has to take that next step, and I think he will."

Sophomore Christian Simpson returns after appearing in three games as a freshman. Schauer says of the 6'3" and 205-pound sophomore, "Chris adds physicality and an effort that we do not have in anybody else on the team. He is a very physical player and plays as hard as anybody on the team. He is growing as an offensive player."
Mark Champion played in eight games as a freshman last season. The forward scored a season-high seven points at Millikin in January. Schauer notes of the 6'8" Champion, "Mark is a skilled offensive player who needs to grow defensively."

Sophomore guard Michael Winowiekcki is new to the Thunder program after transferring from Indiana Wesleyan University. An All-State performer in Michigan in High School, he played in 12 games as a freshman for Indiana Wesleyan. "He is as good a shooter as we have in the gym. He is learning and is in his third different system in three years so I think he is a little bit overwhelmed with the amount of information that he is being given. He is another guy that if he can get just good enough defensively he will play because he is such a good shooter," states Schauer.

Schauer says of 6' 7" center Trevor Leach "Trevor is somebody that I am very pleased with how he is performing right now. He really understands what we are trying to do at both ends of the floor. He understands his own limitations, which is a unique gift. He is a very physical player and will definitely get playing time because of his size and playing time."

Zack Kvam appeared in three games for the Thunder in 2014-15. Schauer notes of him, "Zack is an ultra-competitive, hard-working kid and if he is willing to accept a role he could help us."

Freshman Trae Masten (Fort Wayne, Ind./South Side) is a 6 '6" newcomer to the Thunder program. Schauer notes of him, "Trae is a special offensive player when he wants to be. He is as good a shooter as we have had and at 6' 6" he is very long and can get shots off. He needs to get stronger and grow defensively, but is capable of scoring in our league right now."       

Guard Troy Morrison (Stone Mountain, Ga./Greater Atlanta Christian) graduated from Greater Atlanta Christian High School in 2013-14 and played at Phillips Exeter Academy prep school in New Hampshire in 2014-15. "Troy is unique player in that he has a gear that nobody else on our roster has," notes Schauer. He adds, "He is a true point guard that can get up-and-down the floor. He has a very high basketball IQ; and is a guy who doesn't completely understand the competition level that we compete at. Once games get underway he will find out and I am hoping that he will respond to that."

Freshman Luke Peters (Medina, Ohio / Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy) joins the same Thunder program that his brother Tyler played for from 2010-14, earning All-American recognition. "Luke is in a tough spot because he looks like his brother and plays similarly. Luke's future is as a point guard. His only limitation right now is a physical one, he has to get stronger. Luke is going to compete for playing time because he is a unique 6' 3" point guard," concludes Schauer

Schauer says of freshman Kobe Eichelberger (Maitland, Fla./Trinity Preparatory School),"Kobe is a very skilled and athletic kid who is going through the normal freshman transition to college basketball, but once the light bulb goes on he will be a good player." He adds of 6' 6" forward Reagan Jones (Fairfax Station, Va./Lake Braddock) "Reagan Jones is a decent athlete and can shoot it. Once he figures it out he could be a quality CCIW player."

Schauer says of freshman guard Tyrel Derrick (Rathdrum, Idaho/Lakeland), "Tyrel is a hard-nosed competitive kid who will do anything that you ask of him. He is a true servant kid." He adds of fellow newcomers, Trevor Gunter (Flint, Texas/Grace Community School), "Trevor has been out sick and TJ DeMoss (Elburn, Ill./St. Charles North) has been injured and we hope to have them back."